Children’s safety and mental health

According to police data from England and Wales, in more than half of sexual abuse crimes concerning children reported in 2022, the alleged perpetrators were minors aged 10 to 17. Ian Critchley, chair of child protection at the National Police Chiefs’ Council, says boys against girls most often commit the crimes. In his opinion, the reason is, among others, easy access to brutal pornography and the rapid increase in the availability of smartphones for the youngest.

Under the new regulations, Instagram and Facebook will hide information from users under 18 years old about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. They will remain invisible to minors, even if shared by someone the minors are following. Instead, when someone posts about their struggles with self-harm or eating disorders, the platforms are supposed to show content from mental health charities.

How does the war in Gaza affect the mental health of Palestinian children? The conflict between Palestine and Israel, which has been going on for years, is taking its toll, especially on the youngest, whose everyday experiences include shootings, explosions and suffering because of images of war. According to research conducted by Save The Children in 2018, 55% of children in Gaza experienced depression and anxiety. When the survey was conducted again in 2022, this figure increased to 80%.